Fernandes keeps mum over Kargil

Defence Minister George Fernandes today
opted to remain silent on the Kargil issue, saying he would not
comment on what was happening in the Kargil sector.

''There is a briefing every day in New Delhi by the armed forces
and I do not want to comment on the situation (in Kargil),'' he told
newspersons at the army's Command Hospital in Chandigarh.

Responding to the demand for his resignation by some opposition
parties following his ''controversial'' statements on the Kargil
operations, he quipped, ''No, I have no plans to resign.''

Asked what he personally felt about Indo-Pak relations
and the army operations in the Kashmir border, he said the
defence minister's personal opinion did not matter a lot.

''I will give my opinion at an appropriate time,'' he added.

Expressing satisfaction over the speech of Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Indo-Pak relations, the defence
minister said, ''It is now up to the prime minister to resolve the
issue and I am confidant that he would do it.''

Fernandes was in Chandigarh to meet jawans injured in the ongoing Kargil
operations. Earlier, he visited the army base hospital at Adampur in
Jalandhar district of Punjab.

Fernandes was accompanied by Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal,
Major General H B Kala, general officer in commanding, western sector and Major General Varinder Singh.